A human began waving for his xeno friend to come over. “Hey, hey Dar-Lic check it out, a bullfrog.” the Selfog began using their six legs to scuttle toward the human “I don’t see any frogs that you are talking about nor any bulls.” The human began to chuckle. “I guess its camouflage is too good for you. Alright then, check out the tarantula.” As Dar-Lic lean in closer he sees a 8 legged creature walking between the grass and water. “I can barely see the entity but its legs are similar too- BY THE STARS SOMETHING ATE IT” laughter began behind the Selfog “Congratulations, you found the bullfrog” -- Anon Guest
[AN: OP, I heartily applaud you naming your alien there 'Dar-lic'. I see what you did there.]
Dar-Lic reflexively leaped backwards, multifaceted eyes riveted on the small patch of olive-green swamp that was a living creature. "That thing eats insectoids?"
"And small mammals. And small enough birds. Anything that fits in its mouth, to be honest." Human Sal reached into the greenish-brown bog and scooped up an amphibian the size of a sports ball. "They get way bigger than this magnificent fella, though. This is just a baby."
"Why did you take me onto this hellplanet? Am I bait?"
"You're too big for any of 'em, relax. Between the livesuit and the supporting exosuit so you can handle the gravity? They couldn't even try."
Given some of the aptly-named Terra's Dire Creatures, this was not as reassuring as Sal might have hoped. "I am activating my contact defenses. Just in case."
"Thought you already had 'em on to be honest." Sal let the beast go. Then sniffed the air. "Oooh, I think there's an opossum nest somewhere near here. They're all nice and gentle-like. I mean, they look like they'll take your finger off, but they're really timid, actually. They pretend to be dead so that predators don't eat them."
Well. That sounded like a far more amenable encounter with a Deathworld's shy and retiring wildlife.
"Is it far from these... bullfrogs?"
"Probably?"
That was enough for Dar-Lic.
[Photo by Omair Muhammad on Unsplash]
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